BLM seeking comments on Ormat project in Nevada
The local office of BLM at Stillwater in Nevada is seeking public comments on geothermal exploration and development of the Wild Rose Geothermal Project of Ormat Nevada.
Reported before the weekend, “The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office, has completed the Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze potential impacts that may result from geothermal exploration and development within the Ormat Nevada, Incorporated (Ormat) Wild Rose Geothermal Project.
The analyses will also include the construction and operation of an associated transmission line to bring electricity to market. The project is located in Gabbs Valley approximately 17 miles west of Gabbs, Nev., in Mineral County. The public is invited to comment on the plan through August 11, 2012.
The proposed action includes the following four components:
- Drilling and testing of up to four exploration wells;
- Construction and operation of a 15- to 35-megawatt (MW) net rated (up to 40 MW gross) geothermal power plant facility and electrical substation;
- Construction and operation of geothermal production and injection wells, pipelines, access roads, and support facilities; and
- Construction and operation of a 120-kV generation-tie and switching station.
This EA analyzes the potential impacts from these activities, specifically, the proposed drilling and testing of four additional exploration wells, the proposed construction and operation of a geothermal power plant; drilling, testing, and operation of 18 geothermal production and injection wells; conversion of exploration wells to production or injection wells; construction and operation of pipelines to carry geothermal fluid between well fields and the power plant; and construction of a 120-kilovolt generation-tie and associated structures.
Exploration and development activities would be contained within two of the four federal geothermal leases of the Dead Horse Wells Geothermal Unit. Three transmission line generation-tie options are also analyzed in this EA, all of which would occur completely on BLM-administered lands.
Links to the EA and related documents are located on the BLM website at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_information/nepa.html.
Please send written comments to: Angelica Rose, Stillwater Field Office, 5565 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701. Comments may also be received via email at adrose@blm.gov and should include “Ormat Geothermal” in the subject line. A hardcopy can be provided upon request. A copy of the EA is also available at the Carson City District BLM office during the comment period.
Public comments submitted for this project, including names and addresses of commenters will be available for public review at the Carson City District Office during regular business hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Source: BLM Press release via Mesquite Citizen Journal